Inclosed switch



Aug. 7, 1923.`

C. D. PLATT IVNCLOSED SWITCH Filed Jan. 2, 1919 I i ii. l `oruser of the switch against inJury.

, live partsofithe switchwhilepermitting` :necessary examination, renewal'of fuses and` 15.

Patented Aug. 7, 1923V n UNITEDSTATES PATENT FFICEih .CLARENCED PLATT, or BRIDGEPQRT, .CoNNECriIcUr iNoLosED swrTcH.

` Appiibatiniiifea January 2, i919. 'sriai no. 269,232. y

` To all 4w [tom it' may concern Be it known that I, CinRNoE D; PLATT,

va citizen ofthe United States of lAmerica,

residing at Bridgeport, Connecticut," have .invented a new' and useful 'Inclosed Switch,

proved means'v for 'protecting' the operator Special objects are tofeifectivelyjguard the the like, and further l'to ensure that the guarding andprotective devicesshall jal ways .be in conditionto perform their guardingfunction.

Briefly the invention resides in the combination with va switch box having a movable cover and switch mechanism within the box, of a guard for the switch parts which while permanently attached to and forming a part of the switch box, is capable of being opened by the proper authorities to expose the protected switch parts.

Other features of the invention, details of construction7 etc., will appear as the specification proceeds and by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein I have illustrated the invention embodied in a practical commercial form.

Fig. 1, is a longitudinal sectional view of a switch constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention.

Fig. 2, is a broken plan view of the same with the cover partly broken away.

Considering said drawing now more in detail, 5 designates the switch box, constructed generally of sheet metal and provided with a movable cover 6, here shown as hinged to the box body at 7.

The switch mechanism ordinarily is secured to the bottomor rear wall of the box and the same is here shown as consisting of an insulating base 8 carrying separated contacts 9 and 10 adapted to be engaged by the yielding switch blades 11 and 12 which blades are electrically connected by fuses 13. The combined switch blade support and fuse carrier is mounted to slide in slots 14 in the standards or posts 15, the movement of said carrier being eii'ected by the toggle links 16 which are connected at their inner ends at 17 with the carrier and pivoted at rocker arms havinor 18 at their outer'endsto the posts.' These toggle links are operated `to `make or` break the toggle and hence to` shift-the; contact. j blades into or out ofengagement'withthecontacts by means of the swinging rocker arms 19 carriedby therockshaft 20, said y i a "lost motion 'engagel' ment between-shoulders 21 and'22 onf'the toggle links. 'A suitable handle' 23 is provided 'for operating the rock shaft.`-` The sliding contact carrier is acted upon by the springs 24 which exert tension to normally" thrust the contact'blades outwardly toy thereby break the circuit. y

25 designates the so-calledguard erprotector `for the switch parts, thesamebeing here shown as a The guard plate is provided with open-` ings 28 in line with the fuses to permit the fuses to be projected therethrough upon` the opening of the switch. Except for these fuse openings and the opening 29 shown provided for theoperating connections, the guard plate may be continuous and uninterrupted so as to provide a substantially unbroken protection for the switch parts when the box cover is open.

The guard may be sealed or otherwise se` cured in its protecting position as by means of a sealing wire 30 or othersecuring means passed through registering `openings in a handle stud 31 yon the guard and a fastening bracket 32 on the box which is shown extended through an opening in the lower end ofthe guard. This same bracket may be used for securing the cover closed by Plate `Off insulatingm'f -teri'al substantially fitting the interior ofthe causing it to project through an opening i in the cover and providing it at its extended outer end with a perforation 33 to receive the hasp of a padlock or the like.

The guard, it will be seen, forms in fact an integral part of the switchandcannot therefore be detached and left off by'a ,careless workman or the like. At the same time one authorized to do so may readily open up the guard to uncover the switch parts and gain access to the wiring of the switch.

l. A yswitch construction comprising a box and a cover hinged' to one wall thereof, movable switch mechanism including fuse terminals within said box, ai 'guard plate having an aperture through which said fuse terminals are adapted to project vvhen the switch circuit is open, said plate being hinged within the box to swing about an axis parallel vwith the cover hinges7 and a bracket secured to the box and adapted to extend through slots in the free ends oi the guard and the cover and to limit closing movement of the guard, said bracket having a lug to engage and hold the coveri `2. A switch construction comprising a vbox andy a movable cover, movable switch mechanism including fuse Aterminals in said box,` an insulating guard plate hinged at one end within the box and adapted when closed to overlie the switch parts to protect the saine when the cover is open, a bracket secured to the box and adapted to extend through a slot in the free end of the guard plate and to limit closing moveme'n-t of the same, andV a handleI o'n the guardplate close to said slot, said bracket and handle being provided with apertures adapted to receive sea-ling means.

3. A swicth construction comprising a box having Walls and a movable cover, movable switch mechanism including fuse terminals in said box, an insulating guard plate overlying the switch parts to protect the same When the cover is open', said guard having an aperture through which said fuse terminals are adapted to project when the circuit is open, a pair of hinge straps 'secured nea-r opposite edges of one side of the guard plate and approximately co-e'xn tensive therewith and reinforcing the same, said straps being curled over at lone end to form gudgeon's7 studs mounted on opposite .Walls of the box to piv'otally Support said gudgeons7 a bracket 'secured to the side wall 'of the box and adapted to extend through a slot in the guard plate near its free end' to support the plate, 'and means wholly within the box for 'sealing the guard plate in closed positief-1, CLARENCE D. PLATT. 

